Editor Chris Ciufo spent time with Microchip software manager Joe Drzewiecki at the Spring DESIGN West show (formerly known as ESC). Microchip launched their new MPLAB X compiler strategy that now goes across all Microchip MCUs. It also adds a new license strategy, optimizations that compile 35 percent faster on 32-bit devices (or save 35 percent on code size). There's also a "totally free" version of the MPLAB X compiler. Check out the 3 minute video.

At DESIGN West 2012 (aka "ESC" San Jose), Senior Editor Chris A. Ciufo sat down with TI's Matt Kurtz, Manager, Wireless Connectivity Group. Matt's group's job is to add wireless capabilities to microcontrollers with "everything from ANT to ZigBee". Consider their SimpleLink initiative, which is comprised of chipsets, protocols, APIs and drivers that make easy the task of adding wireless to a TI microcontroller product. In this short video, Matt explains that TI's focus is one-stop-shopping and simplicity. Judging from market feedback, TI has met its goals.